Untitled (from Droguinhas) 1966

Editor: Here we have Mira Schendel's "Untitled (from Droguinhas)" created in 1966, a mixed-media sculpture using what appears to be netting or woven fiber. It has a strange, almost unsettling quality, like a fishing net teeming with…something. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see echoes of ancient rituals, Editor. Consider the thread, the fiber itself: a symbol across cultures representing connection, fate, and even life itself. Schendel, working during a period of intense social and political upheaval in Brazil, seems to be grappling with themes of containment and precariousness. Editor: Containment? It seems quite… porous. Curator: Precisely. It is about suggesting a system meant to contain that which spills out. The "Droguinhas" title also plays into it. Editor: Does ‘Droguinhas’ refer to the nets directly, or something else? Curator: Droguinhas translates to “little nothings.” This might invite a further look into social commentaries about something seemingly disposable. These tangled forms also resemble biological structures, perhaps nerve clusters or cellular growth, further imbuing this with meaning. How do these readings resonate with you? Editor: It definitely deepens my understanding! I was stuck on the surface of it being “just” fiber art, but hearing the historical and symbolic contexts really enriches it. Thanks. Curator: Absolutely! It is fascinating how art like this preserves memory and allows us to reflect on cultural history and social commentary through its chosen symbology.